Hatch cover operating arrangement



July 11, 1967 D. R. UGH 3,330,329

HATCH COVER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Feb. 2l, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 11, 1967 D. R. UGH 3,330,329

HATCH COVER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Feb. 2l, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet BY: www1 (D Shu/Bu July 11, 1967 i. D. R. LIGH 3,330,329

HATCH COVER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Feb. 2l, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet rf ,A i .INI/ENTOR; @amd LK m MQLQQQSMJM cuff' July 11, 1967 D. R. I IGH v 3,330,329

HATCH COVER OPERATING ARHANGEMENT Original Filed Feb. 2l, 1956 4 Sd'leeQS-Sheefv 4 e @M 70 gNVENToR:

@av Q L "a" I BY: F/Gg Ymmlsgfxm United States Patent O M' 3,33,329 HATCH COVER OPERATING ARRANGEMENT David R. Ligh, 270 Kings Road, Madison, NJ. 07514 Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 566,875, Feb. 21, 1956. This application Sept. 13, 1965 Ser. No. 502,791

12 Claims. (Cl. 160-188) The present invention relates to a hatch cover operating mechanism, and more particularly to a hatch cover operating mechanism by which two hatch cover sections which are pivotally connected for relative turning movement are moved between an aligned position for covering a hatch, and a folded position in which the hatch is opened for access and loading.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 566,875, filed Feb. 21, 1956 and now abandoned.

Hatch covers of this type have to turn relative to each other through an angle substantially of 180, and in the arrangements according to the known art considerable ditiiculties were caused by the fact that reciprocating operating means, such as fluid-operated pistons, are less effective near the dead centers of the reciprocating motion. Reciprocating drive means acting on cranks exert the smallest force near the dead centers, whereas a maximum force is required and desirable when the hatch cover section approaches the hatch-closing aligned position.

lt is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the hatch cover operating mechanism according to the known art, and to provide a hatch cover operating mechanism by which hatch covers are closed in an easy and positive manner with full control over the course of travel at all times.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hatch cover operating mechanism employing the angle multiplier principle for hatch cover sections moving between an aligned position and a folded position through an angle of substantially 180 so that the hatch cover is actuated by a turntable member which is turned through an angle smaller than the turning angle of the hatch cover sections.

it is another object of the present invention to provide a hatch cover operating mechanism in which a reciprocating drive member produces a maximum torque when the hatch cover sections approach the aligned position in which the hatch is closed.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in a hatch covering operating mechanism which comprises, in combination, hatch cover means including two hatch cover sections connected for relative turning movement about a first axis between first and second angularly spaced positions, at least one actuating means including a first member connected to one of the hatch cover sections for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis, and a second member connected to the first member for turning movement about a third axis parallel to the second axis, the second member being connected to the other hatch cover section for turning movement about a fourth axis parallel to the iirst and second axes, and operating means connected to the actuating means for turning the first member about the second axis whereby the hatch cover sections are turned between the first and second positions through an angle greater than the turning angle of the first member about the second axis.

It will be understood that the operating mechanism according to the present invention can be advantageously applied to plate sections which are used for closing and opening an opening different from a hatch.

3,339,329 Patented July 11, 1967 In one embodiment of the present invention, a set of actuating means is provided which include lirst members rigidly secured to a shaft for simultaneous operation of all actuating means. Due to the operation of all actuating means from a single shaft, all actuating means are simultaneously operated whereby the possibility of a twisting action in the event that one side of the cover gets stuck is avoided.

According to another embodiment of' the present invention, each of a plurality of actuating means is operated by an independent operating means, and in this embodiment it is preferred to connect the operating means by a follow control system permitting a relative movement between the two operating means. If such relative movement occurs due to a jamming of one side of the hatch cover, a control mechanism is operated by which the moving operating means is stoppedV until the other operating mechanism has advanced to a corresponding position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hatch cover in which the mechanism of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6 6 in FIG. 1, and illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates an actuator follow control system according to the present invention, and includes a sectional view taken on line 3 8 in FIG. 1 and partly on line 8-*8 in FIGS. 9 and 10, and a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the fluid supply means for providing iiuid to the iiuid operating means by which the mechanism is operated; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views taken on lines 9 and 10, respectively in FIG. 8 and illustrating control cams for controlling the iiuid supply to the iiuid operating means by which the hatch cover is actuated.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hatch cover provided with the operating mechanism according to the present invention may comprise two hatch cover means 1, 2 and 1', 2', respectively, which are symmetrically arranged for 4closing a hatch. An operating mechanism is provided for each of the hatch cover means 1, 2 and 1', 2', respectively, so that it is sufiicient to describe only the arrangement with respect to the hatch cover means 1, 2.

The two hatch cover sections 1 and 2 are pivotally connected for relative turning movement by pivot means '3. At the free end of the hatch cover section 1 there is provided a set of supporting pivot means 4 which support the hatch cover section 1 for turning movement about a turning axis 5. Roller means 6 `are provided at the free end of hatch cover section 2, and roll along track means 7 when the hatch cover sections 1, 2 are moved from the aligned position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to a folded position, illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4. As best seen in FIG. 4, the rollers 6 are located outwardly of the track means 7 when the hatch cover sections 1 and 2 are in the aligned position in which the hatch is closed. Jacks 8 are provided on both sides of the hatch cover, and support the rollers 6 in the closing position of the hatch cover sections 1 and 2. The rollers 6 are raised to the level of the track means 7, by raising the jacks '8, whereupon the hatch cover means a-re operated with the rollers 6 rolling on the tracks 7.

In the closing position of the hatch cover, the hatch cover engages a coaming of the hatch, and tightly closes the same. In this position, the rollers 6 lare located slightly below the surface of the tracks and not supported on the jacks 8.

The hatch coverV operating mechanism according to the present invention is provided for moving the hatch cover sections 1, 2 and 1', 2' between the aligned position in which the hatch is closed and a folded or jack-knifed position in which the hatch is open.

The actuator mechanism is encl-osed in the hollow hatch cove-rs, and is not visible in FIG. 2, Referring now to FIG. 3, a fluid-operated operating means, such as one or several cylinders and piston means 10 are provided. Each cylinder 10 is pivotally supported on a bracket 11 and houses a reciprocable drive piston means to which a piston rod 12 is connected. The piston rod 12 is pivotally connected by means of a fork-shaped connecting member 13 and a pivot pin 13a to a leverY 14 which is connected to a shaft 15 by a key 16. Shaft 15 is mounted in hatch cover section 1 by bearing means 17. The hatch cover sections 1 and 2Yare hollow, and the fluid-operated means, 10, 12 are mounted within the hollow hatch cover section 1. Actuating means are shown in FIG. 3 which comprise a first member 18 connected to shaft 15 by a key 19, and a second member 20 which preferably consists of two parallel links. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, a pivot pin 21 connects the link member 20 to the first member 18. The other end of the member 20 is connected by a pivot pin 22 to a Vbracket 23 which is fixedly secured to the front wall of hatch cover section 2.

As best seen inYFIG. 4, the front wall 1a of the hatch cover section 1 is provided with an opening 1b through which the link member 20 passes during the operation of the hatch cover. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first mmeber 18 is an angular lever composed of two portions extending at an angle With respect to each other. The arrangement is such that during the operation of the hatch cover, the portion 18a extendsV substantially in the direction of the member 20 so that a small opening 1b can be provided in the front wall 1a for passage of the portion 18a and of member 20. Pivot means 3 connect the two hatch cover sections 1 and 2, and are arranged a predetermined distance from the shaft 15.

In the yarrangement illustrated in FIG. 4, the forkshaped connecting member 13 is directly connected by a pivot pin 13b to member 18 of an actuating means.

' When shaft 15 is rotated in clockwise direction, by

movement of the piston -rod 12, a pushing force is transmitted by the member 18 to the member 20 of the actuating means, and causes the pivotally connected hatch cover sections 1 and 2 to turn about the pivot pins 3 while hatch cover section 1 turns about pivot means 4 and the stationary axis 5 whereby the hatch cover sections 1 and 2 move to a folded position and open the hatch. As will be hereinafter explained in further detail, the hatchy cover sections 1 and 2 move through an angle of substantially 180, Whereas the shaft 15, lever 14 and member 1'8 move through a smaller angle. Y

A first axisdefined by the pivot means 3 about which the hatch cover sections 1 and 2 turn relative to each other and a second axis is defined by pivot pin 22. The first axis is spaced a distance K from a third axis defined by the shaft 15. During operation, a fourth axis defined by the pivot Ipin 21 moves along a circle about the third axis, and the second axis defined by the pivot pin 22 4 moves along a circle about the first axis defined by the pivot pin 3. The angle multiplier principle of the arrangement according to the present invention will be best understood with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a small circle A having :a center '3 corresponding to the first .axis defined by the pivot pins 3. The center 15 of the lgreater circle B is spaced a distance KV from the center of the Vcircle a, and corresponds to the third axis defined by the shaft 15. During operation, the pin 21 moves along the circumference of the greater circle B, and the pin 22 moves along the circumference of the smaller circle A.

It is `an object of the :arrangement to move the pin 22 j through about the center 3. The limiting points c and d are consequently 180 apart on circle A.

Point e is selected on the circle A, and the distance between the points c and e corresponds to the length of member 20, or in other words, to the distance between the pins 21 and 22. This distance is indicated by the character m in FIG. 5. Two intermediate points f and g which are spaced 60 apart on circle A are selected ,and the points on the greater circle B areV found which are spaced the distance m from the points f, g and d, respectively. Thereby the-points h, i and j are found on the circle B. The following table reflects the angular travel as The above table shows that it is possible to obtain a rotation of the pivot pin 22 about the axis defined by the pivot means 3 through 180, whereas the pivot pin 21 moves only through 107 about the axis of the shaft 15. By a suitable selection of the realtive lengths of the radii and by the spacing of the center points, the desired angle multiplier ratio is found, and furthermore by selecting the starting and end points of the cycle on the circle, optimum force transmission is obtained to meet load conditions.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 3, two actuating means 18, 20 are connected to shaft 15 and Operated 'by at least one operating means 10, 13, 14. Due to the provisionof shaft 15, lall actuating means have to'operate simultaneously so that a binding of one of the lateral edges of the hatch cover will not result in twisting of the hatch cover sections.

It is also contemplated to provide a plurality of operating means 10, 13, 14 for driving shaft 15. InV any event, the common shaft 15 obtains the` synchronization of all actuating means and operating means thereby eliminating the possibility of a twisting action should one side of the cover get stuck.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the two hatch cover sections 1 and 2 are connected by two actuating means, each of which is operated independently by an operating means. Each actuating means comprises a first ymember 31 which is pivotally connected to hatch cover section 1'by pivot pin 30, and a second member 32 whichis pivotally connected to the first member by a pivot pin 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the first member 31 comprises two parallel levers which are arranged on bot-h sides of the link 32. Onerend of link 32 is connected by a pivot pin 35 to the bracket 36 which is fixedly secured to the hatch cover section 2. T-he other end of the link member 32 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 34 to a fork-shaped connecting member 13. Forkshaped connecting member 13 is fixed on the piston rod 12 of the piston means 10a. The cylinder 10 of piston means 10a is pivotally connected to a rear Wall of the hatch cover section 1 by a bracket 11 and a pivot pin 11a. The arrangement is such that the link member 32 and the piston rod 12 are substantially aligned when the hatch cover sections vare in aligned closing position. Due to this arrangement, a maximum torque is obtained when the hatch cover approaches its aligned closing position. Pivot means 3 defines a first axis, pivot means 35 defines a second axis, pivot means 30 defines a third axis, and pivot means 33 defines a fourth axis. The front wall of the hatch cover section 1 is provided with an opening 1b through which the link member 32 passes. The hatch cover sections are connected by pivot pins 3, and member 31 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 30 to hatch cover section 1. The distance between the pivot pins 3 and the pivot pins 35 constitutes a lever arm, and it will be noted that the link 32 extends substantially normal to the arms 31 Iand to the lever arm 3, 35, in the position of FIG. 6 so that maximum torque is obtained in the aligned position of the hatch cover sections.

The course of travel is laid out in FIG. 7. rI`he characters F1 to F6 represent the positions of the pin 34, the characters D1 to D6 represent the positions of the pivot piu 35, and the characters E1 to E6 represent the positions of the pivot pin 33. During operation, the pivot pin 35 moves along a circle D having the center defined by the pivot pins 3, Six positions D1, D2, D3, D4, D and D6 of the pin 35 are shown. During travel of the pin 35 lalong the circle D, the pin 33 moves between the corresponding positions E1, E2, E3, E4, E5 and E6. It will be apparent that the positions D1 and D6 are spaced 180, whereas the positions E1 to E6 are spaced a smaller angle. At the same time, the pivot pin 34 moves between the positions F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6, As can be seen from FIG. 7, the piston pin 34 moves along a somewhat irregular almost straight path. By suitable selection of the length of the arms and of the spacing between the axes defined by the pins 3 and 30, the pattern of travel may be changed.

The purpose of this mechanical arrangement is to permit maximum torque to be transmitted to the crank arm defined by the pins 3 and 3S. It will be noted that substantially all the piston force acts at a right angle with respect to the crank arm defined by the pin 3 and the point D1. At the end of the operation and when the piu 34 is in the position F6, the link 32 extends between the points F6 and D6, and acts as a beam forcing the crank arm 39, E6 around because of its beam angle. Between these points, the forces are a combination of a direct pushing force and the beam resolution of forces. During the opening operation, the pushing force of the link 32 starts at the maximum, and gradually tapers off as the angle of rotation is increased from 0 to 180, and in fact becomes a negative force in the particular selection of linkages illustrated in FIG. 7. The beam force produced by turning of the link 32 about the pin 33 starts at O and increases as the -angle of rotation increases. The combined forces of the two turning movements achieve the high etiiciency of the system.

Another very important condition to the successful operation of the hatch covering operating mechanism according to the present invention is the fact that the center of gravity of the two hatch cover sections must be towards the hatch opening when the hatch cover is in the folded and opened position. If this condition does not prevail, then the outer hatch cover section will rise olf the tracks and hit the track when the center of gravity swings over.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of actuating means is `synchronized oy a common shaft 1S. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the actuating means are individually and independently operated by operating means such as hydraulic cylinder and piston means. In this construction a follow control system is preferably provided for preventing a binding of the hatch cover in the event that one operating means pushes ahead of the other.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two or more operating means are connected by differential gear mechanism which is connected to both operating means. An actuator follow control system according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 t0 l0. The operating means include cylinders 10, 161 and pistons 10a, 10(11 provided with piston rods 12, 121. A rack 40 is secured to each piston rod 12, and meshes with pinions 41, 411 which are secured to a shaft 42. Rack bars 40, 401 engage opposite sides of the associated pinions 41, 411 so that the two shafts 42, 421 are connected to bevel gears 43 and 431, respectively, which mesh with planetary gears 44 supported on a shaft 45 which is mounted in a spider housing 46.

Cams 47 and 48 are respectively connected to the spider housing 46. The shape of cams 47 and 48 is best seen in FIGS. 9 and l0. When the shafts 42, 421 rotate in opposite directions at the same angular speed, the bevel gears 43, 431 roll in opposite directions on the planetary gears 44, and the spider housing 46 remains stationary. As soon as one of the shafts 42, 421 rotates faster or slower than the other shaft due to the slowing down of one of the pistons 10a, lal then the planetary gears 44 will make up the difference by turning the spider housing 46 about the axis of the shafts 42, 421. Cams 47 and 48 turn under such conditions with the spider housing 46.

Valves 49 and 491 'are operated by the cam follower push rods 59 and 501 which cooperate with the cams 47 and 48. When cam 47 turns in clockwise direction, a node 47a actuates the push rod 50 and shuts off the flow of operating fliud. Simultaneously, the cam 48 turns clockwise, but the valve 491 is not actuated due to the constant radius of `the cam 48. During turning of the spider housing 46 in the opposite direction due to a slowing down of the other piston, the node 48a -becomes effective as the cams 47 and 48 turn in counter clockwise direction.

The slowing down of one of the pistons 10a, 10a1 may be caused by binding of one side of the hatch cover means, and would result in twisting of the hatch cover by the faster advancing other piston. Due to the actuator follow control system illustrated in FIG. 8, such detrimental occurrence is prevented, since the faster advancing piston is disconnected from the hydraulic operating fluid and stopped until the other piston has overcome the obstacle and has reached a position corresponding to the position of the more advanced piston.

FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement showing iluid-operated operating means, ibut it will be understood that a similar follow control system can be applied to electrically operated operating devices. In this event the current is shut off from the drive motors taking the place of operating means 10, 16a and 101, 1on1 by switches corresponding to the valves 49, 491 to prevent a movement of one side of the hatch cover when the other side is jammed.

FIG. 8 also shows the hydraulic control system for the mechanism of the present invention. Four-way control valves 6i) and 691 control the direction of piston travel. When the valve handle 61 is operated and turned through a quarter turn, the direction of flow to each cylinder 1i) is changed and the operation of the pistons reversed. When in the OUT position hydraulic pressure is applied to the pressure conduit 62, the operating uid will flow through valves 49 and 491 and through valves 6d and 601 to the cylinders 10, 101. Continuous ow will take place as long as the pistons move at the same speed. The operating iluid from the opposite end of the cylinders 10 and 101 flows through valves 60 and 601 to the return conduit 63. In the event that for instance the piston 19a goes ahead of piston 10a1, then cam 47 rotates clockwise and shuts off the flow of operating fluid to the cylinder 10 until piston 10a1 catches up so that cam 47 returns to neutral position and the associated valve 49 is opened. If piston 10:11 goes ahead of piston 10a, a corresponding operation takes place and control cam 48 shuts off the iiow of operating fluid to cylinder 101 by closing the Vvalve 491. For the operation of the hatch covers 1 and 2 in opposite direction, the valves 60 and 601 are turned to IN position. It will be noted that the differential action takes place similarly to the operation described above when the valves 60 and 601 are in IN position. The `racks 40, or corresponding mechanical elements are shown to be connected to .the pistons, but may be attached to the hinges Yor other moving parts of the covers. When two sets of pistons are used, the two outermost pistons on either side control the cam action for controlling the ow of operating iiuid to each set of cylinders. As shown in the lower portion of FIG. 8, a pump 72 driven by motor 73 provides the operating fluid for the fluid operated mechanism. Pump 72 is connected through a sequence valve 7l to the conduit 62 and directly connected to the conduit 63. Operating valve means 70 serve for operating the hydraulic jacks 8 of which only one is shown in FIG. 8. The sequence valve 71 is also connected to the jacks, Vand opens when the pressure in the jacks 8 reaches a predetermined value. Consequently, the operating mechanism for the hatch covers is not operated before the jacks have slightly raised the hatch covers.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of operating mechanism for folding plates differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a hatch operating mechanism employing the angle multiplier principle, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects -of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure arrangement comprising, in combination, a first panel-like means, a secondv panel-like means connected to an edge of said first means for turning movement about a first axis between a closed position wherein said means are generally coplanar and an open position wherein said means are in folded relationship; an operating means including an operating member movable in one direction between an advanced position and a retracted position, said operating means being movably supported on said first means; a link connected to said second means for turning movement about .a second axis parallel to said first axis, said link extending in said closed position of said panel-like means substantially in said direction of movement of said member; a first lever connected at one end thereof to said first means for turning movement about a third axis parallel to said first and second axes, and being connected at the other end thereof to said link for turning movement about a fourth parallel axis; a shaft located in said third axis xedly connected to said first lever a second lever fixedly connected to said shaft for turning movement with the same and with said first lever, said second lever being pivotally connected to said operating member for turning movement about a pivot axis parallel to said axes whereby said link is connected to said operating member for relative turning movement, said first lever and a plane passing through said first and second axes extending generally transverse to said link and to said direction of movement of said operating member so that said second means turns through a greater angle about said first axis than said lever turns about said third axis during movement of said operating member between said advanced and retracted positions, and whereby said link acts with a maximum pushing force on said second means at the start of the movement of said operating member to move said panel-like means from closed to open position.

2. Actuating device comprising, in combination, hatch cover means including a first hatch cover section and a second hatch `cover section connected to said first hatch cover section for turning movement about a first axis through substantially' 180 between a first aligned position and a second folded position; an operating means including an operating member movable in one direction between an advanced position and a retracted position, said operating means being movably supported on said first hatch cover section; a link connected to said second hatch cover section for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said link extending in said aligned position of said second section substantially in said direction of movement of said member; and a lever connected at one end thereof to said first hatch cover section for turning movement about av third axis parallel to said first and second axes, and being connected at the other end thereof to said link for turning movement about a fourth :parallel axis, said lever being pivotally connected to said operating member for turning movement about a pivot axis located spaced from said third axis so that said link is connected to said operating member for relative'turning movement and extends in direction of the same in said retracted position, said lever and a plane passing through said first and second axesV extending transverse to said link and to said direction ofV movement of said operating member, said axes being spaced in such manner that said hatch cover Ysections are 1n said aligned position in said retracted position of said operating member so that said second hatch cove-r section turns through a greater angle about said first axis than said lever turns about said third axis during movement of said operating member between said advanced and retracted positions, andy whereby saidY link acts with a maximum pushing force on Vsaid second hatch cover section at the start of the movement of said operating member'toward said advanced position to move 'said second cover section from said aligned to said folded position.

3. An actuating devicey as set forth in claim 2 wherein said hatch cover sections are hollow, each hatch cover section including top and bottom walls and end walls, two of said end walls-being located opposite each other in the region of said first axis, and` atleast one of said end walls i having an opening, and wherein said lever has a first portion at said Votherend thereof extending in direction of said link and a second portion connected Vto said first hatch cover section for turning movement about said third axis and being transverse to said first portion, saidV second portion and said operating means being located in said first hatch cover section andY said second portion projecting through said opening toward said link.

4. An actuating device, comprising, in combination, hatch cover means including a first hatch cover section and a second hatch cover section connected to said first hatch cover section for lturning movement about a first axis .through substantially Ibetween an aligned position and a folded position; first and ysecond operating means movably supported on said first hatch cover section, each operatin-g means including operating member reciprocable in a direction transverse to said first axis 'between an advanced position and a retracted position; two actuating means, each actuating means including a link connected to one Aof said operating members for relative turning movement and connected to said second hatch -cover section for .turning movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said link extending in said aligned position of said sections substantially in said direction of said movement of the corresponding member and a lever connected at' one end thereof to said first hatch cover section for turning movement about a third axis parallel to said first and second axes and being connected at the other end -thereof to the respective link for turning movement about a fourth parallel axis, said levers and planes passing through said first and second axes extending generally .transverse to said links and to the direction of movement of said operating members, said axes being spaced in such a manner that said hatch cover sections are aligned in said retracted position of said operating members so that said second hatch cover section turns through an angle of 180 about said first axis while said levers turn a smaller angle a'bout said third axes during movement of said operating members between said advanced and retracted positions and whereby said links act `with a maximum pushing force on said second hatch cover section at the start of the movement of said operating members toward said advanced positions; differential gear means including a pair of sun gears respectively connected to said operating members and -being turned by the same in opposite directions, a spider housing, and planetary gear means mounted on said spider housing meshing with said sun gears so that turning of said sun gears at different speeds caused by unequal speeds of said operating members effects displacement of said spider housing out of its normal position; and first and second control means respectively associated with said first and second operating means for starting and stopping the same and being operated by said spider housing for stopping any one of 'said operating means whose operating member travels faster ythan the operating member of the other operating means, and for starting the respective operating means when said spider housing has returned to the normal position thereof.

5. An actuating device as set forth in claim 4 ywherein each operating means is a hydraulic means including a cylinder and a piston, and wherein each piston has a piston rod pivotally connected to said link and constituting said operating member.

6. An actuating device comprising, in combination, a first means; a second means connected to said first means for turning movement about a rst axis; lan `operating means including an operating part movable in one direction ibetween an advanced position and a retracted position, said operating means being movably supported on said first means; a link member connected to said second means for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis; a lever member connected at one end thereof to said first means for turning movement `about a third axis parallel to said first axis and said second axis and being connected at the other end thereof to said link member for turning movement about la fourth parallel axis; and pivot means connecting said lever member to said operating part for turning movement relative thereto, said link member extending in said retracted position of said operating part lsubstantially in said direction of movement of the same, a -plane passing through said third axis and fourth axis and a plane passing through said first axis and second axis extending transverse to said link member and to said direction of movement of said operating part whereby said second means turns through a greater angle about said first axis than said lever member turns about said third axis during movement of said operating part between said advance and retracted positions, and whereby said link member acts with a maximum pushing force on said second means at the start of the movement of said operating member to said advance position.

7. An actuating device comprising, in combination, a first means; a second means connected to said first means for turning movement about a first axis; van operating means including an operating part movable in one direction between an advanced position and a retracted position, said operating means being movable supported on said first means; a link member connected to said second means for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis; a lever member connected at one end thereof to said first means for turning movement about a third axis parallel to said first axis and said second axis and being connected at the other end thereof to said link member for turning movement about a fourth parallel axis; and means connecting said lever member with said operating part and including a shaft means mounted on said first means for turning movement about said third axis and carrying said lever member fixed thereon, a lever connected to said shaft means for turning movement therewith, a pivot means connecting said lever with said `operating part for turning movement so that said lever member is connected to said operating part for turning movement relative thereto, said link member extending in said retracted position of said operating part substantially in said direction of movement -of the same, a .plane passing through said third axis and fourth axis and a plane passing through said first axis and second axis extending transverse to said link member and to said `direction of movement of said operating part whereby said second means turns through a greater `angle about said first axis than said lever member turns about said third axis during movement of said operating part Ibetween said advanced and retracted positions, and whereby said link member acts with a maximum pushing force on said second means at the start of the movement of said operating member to said advance position.

8. Hatch cover operating mechanism comprising, in combination, hatch cover means including two hatch cover sections connected for relative turning movement about a first axis through substantially between a first aligned position and a second folded position; a stationary support turnably supporting the free end of one of said hatch cover sections for turning movement about a turning axis parallel to said first axis; stationary supporting track means extending transverse to said turning axis and supporting the free end of other hatch cover section for movement generally toward and away from said turning axis, a set of actuating means, each actuating means including a first member connected to said other hatch cover section for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis, and a second member connected to said first member for turning movement about another axis parallel to said second axis; a shaft rigidly secured to said second member and mounted on said one hatch cover section for turning movement about a further axis parallel to said first and second axes; and operating means including lever means fixedly connected to said shaft, connecting means pivotally connected to said lever means and reciprocating drive means mounted on said one hatch cover section and being connected to said connecting means for turning said shaft and said second member about said further axis whereby said second member is turned through an angle smaller than 180.

9. Actuating means for a folding hatch cover for a generally horizontal hatch opening in a vessel, the cover including a pair of cover sections hinged together along adjacent edges for turning movement about a first axis through substantially 180 between a coplanar generallyhorizontal position at least partially closing the hatch opening and folded generally-upright position, at least partially opening the hatch opening, with the opposite edge of one section being hinged to another element for tuming movement about an axis parallel to the first axis and the opposite edge of the other section being guided for generally horizontal linear movement toward and away from the opposite edge of the one section, said actuating means comprising: first link means pivotally connected to said one section for turning movement about a second axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis; second link means connected to said second section for 4turning movement about a third axis spaced from and parallel to said first and second axes, said first and second link means being connected together for turning movement about a fourth axis parallel to but spaced from said 11 first, second and third axes and located above said first' axis but beneath the upper surface of the cover sections in the coplanar generally-horizontal position thereof; power-operated means mounted on the underside of one of said sections, in the generally-horizontal position of the latter, and including a reciprocable operating member; and means connecting said member to one of said link means for turning movement relative thereto about an axis spaced from, parallel to, and above said second axis in the kgenerally-horizontal position of said sections.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 in which ythe first section, in its horizontal position, has a depending wall in the vicinity of and parallel to they second axis, the first link means is angular, and the Wall has an opening through which a portion of said first link means extends during operation of the actuating means.

11. The structure defined in Claim' 1o" in which the operating member is directly connected to the first link means. v

12. The structure defined in claim 10 in which the first link means is fixedV to a shaft coaxialwith the second axis and the connecting means between the operating member of one of the link means includes said shaft.

References Cited Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,154,136 10/ 1964 Ligh 169-188 DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primm Exminer.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST PANEL-LIKE MEANS, A SECOND PANEL-LIKE MEANS CONNECTED TO AN EDGE OF SAID FIRST MEANS FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN SAID MEANS ARE GENERALLY COPLANAR AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN SAID MEANS ARE IN FOLDED RELATIONSHIP; AN OPERATING MEANS INCLUDING AN OPERATING MEMBER MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION BETWEEN AN ADVANCED POSITION AND A RETRACTED POSITION, SAID OPERATING MEANS BEING MOVABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID FIRST MEANS; A LINK CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND MEANS FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A SECOND AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST AXIS, SAID LINK EXTENDING IN SAID CLOSED POSITION OF SAID PANEL-LIKE MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER; A FIRST LEVER CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID FIRST MEANS FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A THIRD AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND AXES, AND BEING CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO SAID LINK FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A FOURTH PARALLEL AXIS; A SHAFT LOCATED IN SAID THIRD AXIS FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST LEVER A SECOND LEVER FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT FOR TURNING MOVEMENT WITH THE SAME AND WITH SAID FIRST LEVER, SAID SECOND LEVER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID OPERATING MEMBER FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A PIVOT AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID AXES WHEREBY SAID LINK IS CONNECTED TO SAID OPERATING MEMBER FOR RELATIVE TURNING MOVEMENT, SAID FIRST LEVER AND A PLANE PASSING THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND AXES EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO SAID LINK AND TO SAID DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER SO THAT SAID SECOND MEANS TURNS THROUGH A GREATER ANGLE ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS THAN SAID LEVER TURNS ABOUT SAID THIRD AXIS DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER BETWEEN SAID ADVANCED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, AND WHEREBY SAID LINK ACTS WITH A MAXIMUM PUSHING FORCE ON SAID SECOND MEANS AT THE START OF THE MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO MOVE SAID PANEL-LIKE MEANS FROM CLOSED TO OPEN POSITION. 